The Battalion - October 3, 2018 Section 1

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2018 STUDENT MEDIA

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF SERVICE

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The Battalion | 10.3.18

FALL 2018 EDITORIAL STAFF

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR The Battalion has always and will always strive to serve its readers Megan Rodriguez

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@MeganLRodriguez

s one of Texas A&M’s oldest traditions, The Battalion has been an integral part of Aggie culture for a century and a quarter.

Since the first edition was published on Oct. 1, 1893, staff members have been striving to connect with their readers. In its earliest days, this was done in the style of literary magazine, and original Editor-in-Chief E.L. Bruce encouraged every cadet to participate by submitting their own writing.

“Boys, this paper is yours,” Bruce wrote. “Make it something. Lend all

the student media board bylaws read.

This 125th anniversary edition is meant to chronicle our publication’s continued efforts to meet these standards and highlight our greatest accomplishments. We hope this edition provides readers with insight into what The Battalion has seen and what the university has experienced throughout its rich history.

In the face of the rapidly shifting field of journalism, The Battalion fully intends to continue pursuing its mission of serving its readers for another 125 years.

your assistance possible. It is your duty, and should be your pleasure, to write something for every issue.”

After undergoing major changes throughout the last 125 years, The Battalion now serves its readers by reporting the latest Aggie news online and in print, providing training for the aspiring journalists who develop it.

Though the paper has changed with the times, The Battalion’s dedication to its readership has not wavered.

“The Battalion is a student newspaper and a forum for student expression, which shall serve the University community by accurately and fairly reporting the news of the day and by developing informed opinions regarding issues of interest to Battalion readers,”

Megan Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief Luke Henkhaus, Managing Editor Cassie Stricker, Photo Chief Jesse Everett, Asst. Photo Chief Taylor Fennell, News Editor Anthony Pangonas, News Editor Jordan Burnham, Asst. News Editor Sanna Bhai, Special Sections Editor Angel Franco, Sports Editor Abigail Ochoa, Asst. Sports Editor Hannah Falcon, Life & Arts Editor Kathryn Whitlock, Life & Arts Editor Samantha Mahler, Asst. Life & Arts Editor Daoud Qamar, Video Editor Kevin Christman, Asst. Video Editor

Megan Rodriguez is a communication senior and editor-in-chief for The Battalion

FILE

Old Main, A&M’s college’s primary building, went up in flames on May 27,1912. The modern Academic Building would later take its place in 1914.

‘Main Building burns — library a total loss’ 1912 staff covers destruction of one of A&M’s earliest campus buildings

By Luke Henkhaus @Luke_Henkhaus In the early-morning hours of May 27, 1912, fire ripped through Old Main, reducing one of the A&M College’s first campus building to little more than a charred brick facade.

As the flames spread and fire crews leapt into action to salvage what they could, student reporters were on the scene to document the damage. The Battalion was a weekly publication at the time, so when the paper went to press four days later, its pages contained a detailed account of what survived and what was consumed by the blaze. “Main Building burns,” the headline read. “Library a total loss.”

At the time of the fire, Old Main was a multi-purpose structure, containing administrators’ offices, club meeting rooms, shops,

academic records and much of the college’s collection of books, periodicals and other publications. According to The Battalion’s report, the destruction of the materials housed in Old Main’s library was a major blow to the College, second only to the irreversible damage inflicted on the structure itself.

“There were many books of history, literature, art and biography which can not be replaced and which were priceless, and many books of literature in the original German and French,” the article read.

Complete collections of Harper’s Magazine, the Atlantic Monthly and Popular Science Monthly were also turned to ash, along with files of daily newspapers from around Texas and an extensive collection of government publications, including records of the Civil War. The building’s armory was also laid to waste, resulting in the destruction of 300 rifles and a stockpile of field equipment used by the Corps of Cadets during practice marches.

While The Battalion lists this as a $5,000 loss, the report also points out that the contents of

the armory were completely insured, as per the U.S. War Department’s requirement.

Though the intensity of the flames on Old Main’s third and fourth floors made salvage efforts impossible, not everything was doomed to go up in smoke. According to The Battalion’s report, “practically everything” from the lower two floors was saved, including academic records, furniture and taxidermied longhorns.

“When it was certain that the building could not be saved, everyone was called from the work of fire-fighting and put to rescuing the official records and other valuable property,” the article reads.

Though no one was injured during the blaze, The Battalion’s report mentions that one student had a close call with a falling ember. No classes were cancelled as a result of the fire.

In the evening, when the flames had died down, cadets got back to work, tearing down the walls of Old Main that seemed most likely to topple over.

“Although they swayed in the breeze like

reeds, the work was one of great difficulty,” the article reads. “Various means — rifles, cannon and dynamite — were used until the walls which were in greatest danger of falling were leveled, the others being left till later.”

Soon after, the site would be completely cleared, and in 1914, A&M’s Academic Building would take Old Main’s place in the heart of campus.

The Battalion’s account of the fire closes with a brief reflection on what the loss of Old Main meant to Aggies on campus that year, recounting the surreal experience of seeing a campus landmark reduced to rubble.

“Today the Main Building is a collection of blackened walls, heaps of crumbled brick and fallen plaster,” the article reads. “It is hard for the cadet corps to realize that it is no more.

Only the passing by it on the way to classes and the meal formations, which occur at the original place in front of the ruins, bring home with shocking force the fact that it [is] a thing of the past.”

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BATTALION’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY! FROM CHANCELLOR JOHN SHARP

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1. and 4. Men and women’s track claimed a national title in 2009. 2. Johnny Manziel won Texas A&M’s second Heisman Trophy in 2012. 3. Women’s basketball defeated Notre Dame in 2011 to earn the program’s first national championship.

AGGIE ATHLETES SHINE

The Battalion looks back on last 25 years of university sports coverage

By Angel Franco @angelmadison_

Since The Battalion’s centennial birthday 25 years ago, Aggie sports have seen a plethora of changes, including a move to a new conference, multiple national championships and new coaches.

In 2009, 2010 and 2011 the men’s and women’s track and field teams each won three straight national outdoor track titles.

Women’s basketball won its first national championship over Notre Dame 76-70, due largely to Tyra White and Danielle Adams’ stellar performances.

In an article on April 6, 2011 in the special edition celebrating the victory, The Battalion reported that White “played with ice in her veins” while Adams “came up with the All-American performance needed from her on the big stage.”

The national championship was the first in program history. Eight years prior, The Battalion had reported that with the arrival of A&M head coach Gary Blair, Texas A&M was finally positioned to be the best team in

the country.

“In eight years, Blair had literally built the program from the ground up,” the article in the championship special section stated.

Then, history was made again as A&M announced that it was leaving the Big 12 to join the Southeastern Conference on July 2, 2011, though it would not compete in the SEC until the following season.

The Sept. 26, 2011 edition of The Battalion stated that A&M was officially and unanimously voted into the conference. Then-University President R. Bowen Loftin said joining the SEC would offer new opportunities for the athletic programs and the university as a whole.

“The Southeastern Conference provides Texas A&M the national visibility that our great university and our student athletes deserve,” Loftin said. “This is 100-year decision that we have addressed carefully and methodically, and I believe the Southeastern Conference gives the Aggies the best situation of any conference in the country.”

Not long after, Johnny Manziel dazzled his way from a backup quarterback to the best in college football. The elusive, magician-like player became the second Heisman trophy winner in A&M’s history.

With the instant success A&M found its

first two years in the SEC, the administration began approving funding to renovate facilities across campus. At the start of 2013, discussions about redeveloping Kyle Field began. In a Jan. 17, 2013 article, The Battalion reported A&M and Bryan-College Station city administrations were working together on a plan.

“Texas A&M administrators and B-CS community leaders announced an agreement in principle to financially support the Kyle Field Redevelopment Project,” the article stated. “Such an agreement would generate $36 million of the $420 million needed to renovate and expand Kyle Field, as well as keep football games in College Station.”

Two years after the article was published, the Kyle Field redevelopment was completed in time for the 2015 football season. In an article from Sept. 11, 2015 The Battalion reported that, “The 12th Man will still head to Kyle Field — just a bigger, louder, state-of-the-art version of the one before.” The Aggies won their home opener over Ball State 56-23 that year.

The move to the SEC was beneficial to more than just the football team. In 2016, the men’s basketball team won the SEC conference championship. On March 5, 2016 The Battalion reported live from Reed Arena as the Aggies were crowned champions.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to The Battalion!

Thank you for telling the story of Texas A&M University for 125 years Division of Marketing & Communications

“Texas A&M won its first conference championship in 30 years and its first SEC title after defeating Vanderbilt 76-67 in a dominant performance Saturday,” the article stated.

On April 28, 2017, Myles Garrett became the first player in school history to be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft.

“For the first time in school history, the Aggies had one of their own hear their name called first,” the article said.

Dec. 4, 2017 marked the start of a new era for A&M. The athletic department held a special press conference to introduce Jimbo Fisher as the Aggies new head football coach.

Fisher signed a $75 million dollar fully-guaranteed contract.

The Battalion reported that A&M athletic director Scott Woodward was instrumental in convincing Fisher to leave his head coaching job at Florida State, and orchestrated a successful contract negotiation.

“Woodward said bringing Fisher to A&M is just another confirmation that Aggieland has what it takes to attract high profile coaches who have had previous success,” the Dec. 4 article stated.

As the world of sports in Aggieland continues to change drastically, The Battalion will continue to report diligently on the players, coaches and staff of A&M athletics.

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We are a group of professors, instructors, lecturers, and administrators united by our common experience that Jesus Christ provides intellectual and spiritually satisfying answers to life’s most important questions. We are available to students, faculty, and staff who might like to discuss such questions with us. For more information about the Christian Faculty Network and its activities, please visit our website: http://cfn.tamu.edu Chris Carson

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Former head football coach Kevin Sumlin was replaced by Jimbo Fisher in the fall of 2017.

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T

@angelmadison_

he eight days following A&M’s 45-21 loss to LSU were some of the most stressful yet useful real-world experiences an aspiring sports journalist could want.

I had driven to Baton Rouge, Louisiana with Battalion photo chief Cassie Stricker and staff photographer Meredith Seaver to cover the Aggies’ regular season finale against the Tigers.

In the week leading up to the game, there were multiple reports claiming that regardless of the outcome of the game, then-A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin would be fired.

Immediately after the loss, I remember Sumlin saying he had not spoken to administration about his job moving forward. However about 24 hours later, I got a text saying players were having a meeting, which only meant one thing — Sumlin was more than likely getting fired.

I immediately went into overdrive mode and started thinking of everything that needed to be covered to have the story ready by the time the official announcement was made. The only problem was I was driving, and we were stuck in post-thanksgiving traffic on I-10 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Cassie, who was in the passenger seat when I received the text, was taking a nap. My shriek of panic woke her up, and I asked her to pull out her laptop and start pre-writing a brief about Sumlin being fired.

At 2:45 p.m. we got the email confirming that Sumlin had been “relieved of his duties as the head football coach.” From there we used Wi-Fi hotspots to put the story online. Then it was a race back to College Station to put together a six-page newspaper detailing Sumlin’s time with the Aggies. The remainder of the drive was spent making phone calls to my staff and switching to the passenger seat so I could write a column and edit stories as they were coming in.

As we drove into town, we came straight to the The Battalion newsroom to make the final Sumlin-themed paper, which hit the stands the very next morning.

Over the next seven days, then-as-

sistant sports editor Alex Miller and I followed every lead we could. Any little thing that came up about who our next coach would be, we were on the sight or writing something as soon as possible.

Everyone knew that A&M was looking for a coach that could win the Aggies a national championship.

Rumors started to swirl that A&M’s athletic director Scott Woodward was looking at Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher.

On Nov. 30, 2017, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents held a special meeting for three hours to discuss “the hiring of a new football coach.”

The next morning, Twitter exploded after Fisher’s Christmas tree was seen thrown out on the curb in front of his Tallahassee home. Reporters started to speculate that the thrown-out tree was a sign that Fisher was resigning as FSU’s head coach.

Sure enough at around 12:30 p.m. that same day, Fisher informed the FSU administration that he would be leaving to become A&M’s next head coach.

The moment we learned that Fisher had resigned is one that I will remember forever. Alex and I were sitting in our newsroom retelling the events of the week on Periscope, when I got the notification Fisher had resigned. We had to cut the live stream to write the story.

Two days later, Fisher landed at Easterwood airport to the cadence of the Aggie War Hymn played by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and walked down the maroon carpet. Woodward and University President Michael K. Young accompanied Fisher.

Dec. 4, 2017 marked the start of a new era for Texas A&M. At 10 a.m. central time, Fisher was introduced as the Aggies’ head coach for the next 10 years.

Eight days was all it took for a student journalist to fully experience the rush that comes with following a national story. In the months since then, a lot of different stories have been written about Fisher’s first year.

It was only fitting that Fisher’s first season as the A&M’s head coach just happened to be during The Battalion’s 125th year.

Angel Franco is a telecommunication senior and sports editor for The Battalion

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NOTE: This ad presents the personal convictions of the individuals listed herein; the ad does not represent or support any view or position of Texas A&M University or any academic department. The ad does represent and acknowledge the diversity of academic contributions toTexas A&M University by men and women of various race, ethnic group, and cultural background who share the Christian faith.

THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the 2018 fall semester and 2019 spring semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com.

Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH AT 10AM! GENERAL ADMISSION : $27.50 VIP TICKETS: $250 VIP TICKETS INCLUDE ACCESS TO OUR VIP SECTION WITH PRIME STAGE VIEWS, SEATING, DINNER, AND PRIVATE BAR!

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PROVIDED and FILE

Starting from top left: Michael K. Young, Mark A. Hussey, R. Bowen Loftin, Elsa A. Murano, Eddie J. Davis, Robert M. Gates, Ray M. Bowen and E. Dean Gage.

25 years of presidency Influence of A&M’s university presidents since The Battalion’s centennial edition Texas A&M has a long history of highly qualified, distinguished individuals serving as its president.

Since The Battalion’s 100th anniversary edition in 1993, the university has seen eight more presidents, each bringing their unique backgrounds and experiences to Aggieland to continue improving the institution. Battalion coverage of these influential people has included front-page spreads when they took office, in-depth interviews on controversial topics and more. In the coming years, The Battalion is committed to continue reporting on the office of the university president. Below are some of the highlights from each individual’s time in the position and experience prior to serving as president.

Michael K Young May 1, 2015 - Present • Graduate of Harvard Law School • Taught at Columbia University for 20 years.

• Served as the president of University of Utah and University of Washington • Former positions in the government include Deputy Under Secretary for Economic and Agricultural Affairs and Ambassador for Trade and Environmental Affairs in the Department.

• Work on treaties including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) • Running the university’s fundraising campaign, Lead by Example.

Mark A. Hussey Interim President, Jan. 14, 2014 – April 30, 2015 • Previously vice chancellor for A&M System.

• Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2008 • Oversaw A&M System’s four agricultural agencies • Managed the design and construction of A&M AgriLife headquarters.

• Planned the launch of Lead by Example fundraising campaign R. Bowen Loftin, Class of 1971 President, Feb. 12, 2010 – Jan. 13, 2014 • Interim President, June 15, 2009 – Feb. 11, 2010 • Previously vice president and chief executive officer of A&M Galveston • Professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science at Old Dominion University of Norfolk, Virginia • Executive director of the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center.

• Served during major changes including A&M’s move to the SEC, the Memorial Student Center renovation and student enrollment surpassing 50,000 students.

• Became the chancellor at University of Missouri following his time at A&M. Elsa A. Murano President, Jan. 3, 2008 – June 15, 2009 • First woman and first Hispanic-American president • Previously vice chancellor for A&M University System and dean of college of agriculture and Life Sciences.

• Made changes to the academic master plan • Permitted A&M Galveston students to attend A&M for the rest of the semester after Hurricane Ike. • Resigned to be a professor and research in the department of nutrition and food science.

• Currently serves as director of Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at A&M. Eddie J. Davis, Class of 1967 Interim President, Dec. 17, 2006 – Jan. 2, 2008 • Corps of Cadets commander as a student • Retired colonel for U.S. Army Reserves • Previously served as president of the A&M Foundation until 1993 when he was called to be interim president.

• As president, Davis played a key role in instituting A&M’s emergency notification system, Code Maroon.

• Spent 20 years leading fundraising campaigns through the A&M Foundation until his retirement in 2016.

• Currently a principal gifts officer at the Foundation Robert M. Gates President, Aug. 1, 2002 – Dec. 16, 2006 • Previously served as interim dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service (1999-2001) • Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Nov. 6, 1991 - Jan. 20 1993 • As president, he started the Regents’ Scholars Program • Served when A&M’s Qatar branch opened. The new location was used as a shelter following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

• Resigned from position as A&M president to be secretary of defense when he was nominated by George W. Bush.

• On Feb. 2, 2007 he was chosen by the A&M University Board of Regents to hold the title of president emeritus.

Ray M. Bowen, Class of 1958 President, June 1, 1994 – July 31, 2002 • Previously the Interim president of Oklahoma State University.

• Launched Vision 2020, A&M’s strategic plan to become one of the top 10 public universities in the U.S. • President during 1999 bonfire collapse that killed 12 Aggies.

• Served when the Student Recreation Center was built.

• Currently serves as a visiting distinguished professor at Rice University E. Dean Gage, Class of 1965 Acting President, Sept.1, 1993 – June 1, 1994 • Previously served as a provost and academic vice president.

• Oversaw the university’s change to the Big 12 • Served when A&M launched its official university website • Withdrew as a candidate for the president in 1994 and became the associate dean for professional programs in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Information compiled by editor-in-chief Megan Rodriguez using the Texas A&M University and Texas A&M Foundation websites.

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Cushing Meomorial Libary and Archives

As Texas A&M expanded, The Battalion covered every addition from electricity around campus to Kyle Field’s redevelopment.

Tracking changes Battalion coverage of A&M’s ever-changing landscape

By Abigail Ochoa @AbigailOchoa88 Throughout its history, Texas A&M has undergone expansion, construction and welcomed increasingly large groups of new students. The Battalion has served as A&M’s constant in all the change and provided students and faculty with coverage of each new addition to the campus for the last 125 years.

From the university’s first natatorium to the most recent reopening of the Zachry Engineering Education Complex, The Battalion staffers have attended numerous grand openings of staple buildings, keeping the A&M community up-to-date on the ever-expanding campus.

Early editions of The Battalion, going back to 1893, focused on the minute changes, along with what should be added around the university. It was written in a more editorial style, with the writer listing new additions and improvements for students and adding personal opinions sporadically.

“What a broad subject! Look around yourself and with that feeling of peculiar pride compare the college of ‘92-’93 to that of the present year,” one article stated. “The electric light and power house is soon to be put in the operation, and then a long-felt want will be a thing of the past.”

Around the turn of the century, the stories became more formal and informational rather than editorial.

One story in particular displayed an image of Goodwin Hall, the 65room dormitory that was to be built within the year.

Stories continued to be informational, providing graphics of campus growth and including the cost of expansion, along with comments from the university board of directors regarding the projects.

1965 proved to be a busy time for coverage, with six buildings going through construction and costing

about $41.9 million for A&M. The Battalion deemed this the time of “Booming Construction.”

When updates on these projects followed in 1975, the news of a multi-million dollar building and landscaping program was released.

This addition to campus led to stories including Board of Director meetings and the board’s thoughts on said projects.

“A multi-million dollar building and landscaping program is underway on campus, which most of the construction scheduled for completion by the 1976 Centennial Year,” staff writer Jim Peters wrote. “A description of the current projects follows.”

As the student population grew, stories started focusing on grand openings and the benefits the buildings would provide students, rather than construction plans or financials. For example, the new opening of the Human Clinical Research Facility in 2017 highlighted how the buildings would benefit the students and faculty in the College of Education and Human Development.

Photos and galleries became more common in the storytelling, as well. Whether it was a photo of the building or a photo gallery showcasing the buildings’ many amenities, The Battalion staff offered its readers with both a visual and written representation of the campus additions.

Some of the major construction moments that have been covered

by The Battalion include the $485 million Kyle Field renovation, the Bonfire Memorial in honor of the 12 victims of the stack collapse in 1999 and the newly finished Doug Pitcock ‘49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center.

With over 68,000 students and counting, the university and its students are sure to experience more construction and coverage of campus expansion in the years to come.

The Battalion will continue to be there to offer the Aggie community updates, information and grand opening coverage of new additions to the university.

to

THE BATTALION ON 125 YEARS

Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center DOUG PITCOCK ’49

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The Association of Former Students made Ring Day into a larger event in 2000 for students to celebrate their academic achievements.

Evolving traditions Battalion details how staples of Aggie culture have transformed

By Jordan Burnham @RJordanBurnham Traditions are passed down from Aggie to Aggie over the years, but in many cases those traditions undergo changes. Two of the most iconic Aggie traditions that changed throughout the years are Bonfire and Ring Day. A burning passion Beginning in 1907 after a win against rival Tulane Green, the first bonfire was just a pile composed of various wooden objects. The idea was a success among students, and eventually the bonfire moved on-campus, and was used to ignite Aggie Spirit against the University of Texas before the annual Thanksgiving Day football game.

A Battalion article from November of 1939 detailed how two railroads running through College Station shipped in carloads of scrap lumber, railroad ties and other flammable materials for the freshmen to put on the fast-growing heap.

“In addition to material being obtained from the railroads, college residents are furnishing trash and scrap wood for the fire,” the article states.

Bonfire originally used a teepee-style design, but eventually switched to a “wedding-cake” style that allowed for multiple layers of logs, each smaller in diameter than the layer before.

After the integration of non-cadets into the university, Bonfire became a tradition that allowed all students to unify throughout its building process.

In an article published on Nov. 22, 1966, cadet Robert Smith said, “It shows that both non-regs and Cadets Corps members can work together for one of the greatest things of its time in the world.”

The year 1969 saw a record year for Bonfire, and the Nov. 26, 1969 edition of The Battalion reported that stack would reach 105 feet tall — higher than any structure on- campus at the time.

“The gigantic Bonfire symbolizes the burning desire of every Aggie to beat the hell out of Texas,” the article read.

The Battalion covered the many changes in tradition over the years, including those that came out of tragedy.

On Nov. 18, 1999, Battalion staff rushed to the scene of the greatest heartbreak in A&M’s history: the Bonfire collapse that resulted in the death of 12 Aggies.

The article reported that Michael Guerra, hall council president of the FHK Complex, was in disbelief upon hearing news of the collapse.

“I had just seen it standing; then it was down,” Guerra said. “It’s something that should never have happened. It’s something that you never expect.”

The university erected a memorial to remember the 12 Aggies, and every year on Nov. 18 at 2:42 a.m., students gather to remember those who lost their lives.

As a result of the loss, the universi-

ty-sanctioned Aggie Bonfire ceased to exist. However, students looking to continue the tradition and honor the fallen formed Student Bonfire in 2003.

The group constructs a bonfire stack at an off-campus site each year.

The students who continue to preserve the tradition of Bonfire have created new rules to ensure that the stacking process is safe for students, and a 2014 article in The Battalion highlighted the new safety procedures taken by bonfire leadership. Then-redpot Joseph Howard, Class of 2015, said in the article that the way Stack is now constructed reflects bonfire’s adherence to the new and improved safety protocol.

“Despite the circumstances that shaped bonfire, it remains one of the most timeless traditions at A&M,” Howard said.

A shining symbol Bonfire is not the only tradition to have changed over the years, as the celebrations surrounding the Aggie Ring have only recently become a major Aggie tradition.

The ring itself has changed in appearance since it was first created in 1889, according to a 2017 article in The Battalion. After a series of adjustment over the years, University President Thomas Walton moved to standardize the ring in 1933, solidifying a design that closely resembles the rings received by students today.

The ceremony of receiving the ring itself wasn’t always regarded as an important event, and the ring used to be referred to as the “Senior Ring.”

In May 1945, The Battalion reported that after seniors receive their rings, “The traditional ring ceremony, in which the Senior’s date turns his ring while standing in the replica of the famous Aggie Ring, will be followed.”

The tradition has since evolved, allowing many Aggies to obtain their rings before senior year, as long as they meet the requirements of 90 credit hours, including 45 at A&M. By the 1990s, Ring Day had changed into a first-come, first-serve event, allowing students to receive their rings on Ring Day as they pleased. According to Kathryn Greenwade, Vice President for Communications and Human Resources at the Association of Former Students, the way people received their rings was not always a celebration on-par with the milestone itself.

“In 2000, we made a decision here at the Association of Former Students that we wanted to make Ring Day a celebration worthy of the accomplishment,” Greenwade said. Ring Day has become a day for students to celebrate their academic achievements with friends and family.

“One of the great things about Aggie Ring day is that it has become a celebration of the Aggie Network, because it brings together students and former students and parents and faculty and staff,” Greenwade said. “It’s just a great day of celebration and a reminder of how we are all connected to each other.”

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First African-American corps commander Marquis Alexander and first female corps commander Alyssa Michalke both broke barriers in Texas A&M’s oldest organization.

DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP Women and students of color break barriers, represent A&M’s student body

By Jordan Burnham @RJordanBurnham Women and minorities have played an integral role in the history of Texas A&M, and their ascension to leadership positions has been thoroughly documented by The Battalion.

The year of 1963 was undoubtedly one of progress at A&M, but even with then-President Earl Rudder’s landmark decision to admit women and minorities to the university, the struggle for inclusion has continued.

The Battalion began reporting on minority issues from the beginning and in a 1963 issue, it covered the enrollment of the first eight African-American students in A&M’s 87-year history.

Leroy Sterling would become the first black student to enroll.

“The men, who came as special students, were the first of their race to apply for admission since the Board of Directors resolved to end segregation throughout the system last year,” the issue reads.

Though women officially gained admission in 1963, the struggle for co-education began long before. According to the 100th anniversary edition of The Battalion in 1993, daughters and family members of college employees were allowed to attend A&M in limited numbers in 1933 due to the Great Depression.

Eventually, the A&M Board of Directors made the ruling to accept women on April 27, 1963, and The Battalion immediately released the news.

“The student body, most of whom were away when the decision was made public, were unhappy,” the article reads. “While feelings among civilians were mixed, the Corps of Cadets were furious. More than 4,000 students booed President Earl Rudder when he told them there was no possibility of repealing the new policy.”

Women were not permitted to live on-campus until 1972, and The Battalion reported on Feb. 23, 1971 that women’s dormitories had been approved by the A&M System Board of Regents.

“The decision, which was unanimous, is the first time anything definite has been said as to when women will be allowed to live on campus,” Battalion assistant editor Hayden Whitsett wrote.

Following integration, leadership among minorities gradually came to fruition at A&M. According to a 1965 issue of The Battalion, Fred McClure, Class of 1976, was elected as Speaker of the Senate and later became the first Af-

rican-American student body president in 1976.

When Brooke Leslie, Class of 1994, was elected the first female student body president in 1994, The Battalion was on the scene.

“I do not want to be remembered as the first woman president,” Leslie told reporters. “I want to be remembered as the best student body president ever.”

The first African-American Corps Commander, Marquis Alexander, was appointed in 2012, and the first female commander, Alyssa Michalke, was appointed in 2015. An editorial found in a February 2015 issue of The Battalion said that a culture of modernization and growth instituted

by Corps Commandant Brig. Gen. Joe Ramirez contributed to these selections.

“Still, the Corps has lagged behind similar university milestones,” the editors wrote. “The first black student body president was elected in 1976, the first female in 1994. And the most visible positions associated with the Corps — the student-elected yell leaders — have never been occupied by a woman.”

Diversity at A&M made further progress and The Battalion continued to report in 2018, when economics senior Bobby Brooks became A&M’s first openly gay student body president. Brooks became SBP after candidate Robert McIntosh was disqualified due to mistakes on his campaign expense report.

In a March 2017 edition of The Battalion, then-Memorial Student Center vice executive for minority affairs Brian O’Hara said that with the election of Brooks, it’s easy for students to say they have made progress.

“Our student leaders are continually more and more representative, and more and more true to who they are as the student body,” O’Hara said.

Carlo Pizarro, urban and regional planning senior and president of the Council for Minority Student Affairs said that during his time at A&M and serving on student senate he has been able to see diversity in action and is hopeful for the future.

“I’ve really seen students of color grow into those roles and it really makes me hopeful that college students try to achieve to get into these position to represent the university,” Pizarro said.

“Not just because it’s good for students of color to be there, but also to inspire new generations of people to come out and see that ‘I do belong in this seat, this is my school and this is where I want to be,’ and that will all be thanks to all the student leaders of color before them who made that happen.”

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1. Former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush have had a lasting impact on Texas A&M. 2. George H. W. Bush threw the first pitch at the Yale vs. Texas A&M baseball game in 2016. 3. A statue honoring Bush was unveiled at the Bush Library in 2014. 4. George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush broke ground in 1994 for the Presidential Library.

A presidential legacy Documenting a special relationship between Texas A&M and a former president of the United States

By Samantha Mahler @MahlerSamantha The history of the 41st president of the United States lives on at Texas A&M through preserved documents and educational events.

The George H.W. Bush Library and Museum opened its doors on Nov. 7, 1997. The library boasts 17,000 square feet of permanent exhibit space telling the story of President Bush and the changing world around him, as well as an additional 3,000 square feet designated for traveling exhibits.

The Nov. 7, 1997 edition of The Battalion featured a front page dedicated to the opening of the library.

According to the article, over 20,000 spectators were present at the dedication of the library. Among the attendees were Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and performers like Loretta Lynn and the Oak Ridge Boys.

“Today one thing is for sure — I did not lack for inspiration or support during those four years,” Bush said at the opening ceremony.

Oil developer Michel Halbouty, Class of 1930, was instrumental in persuading Bush to establish his presidential library in College Station. The former president enjoyed the mili-

tary tradition of A&M, and wanted to be on a campus where he felt welcome. Students voted overwhelmingly in favor of housing the library on campus, which made a large impact on his decision.

Once the library was established, the Bush family frequently attended campus events and met with A&M students, sometimes visiting campus as often as four times a month.

“When his health was better, he used to use the Rec Center,” museum director Warren Finch said. “I’ve heard stories of students who would say ‘I was on the elliptical machine and I looked next to me and there was President Bush.’”

One of the library’s most recognizable philanthropy events in recent years was “Deep From the Heart: One America Appeal,” a concert hosted on Oct. 24, 2017, benefiting those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The event featured all five living former presidents and a special recorded message from current President Donald Trump.

Musicians such as Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett and Lady Gaga performed at the benefit concert, which raised over $33 million.

“There’s very few times that you’re able to get all of the living presidents together,” Bush Library marketing and communications director David Anaya said. “It tells you the character of all of the presidents to be able to get together for this event.

It was hard, but I think it created a lot of buzz and I think the money helped a lot of people.”

While most print news outlets were not allowed to leave

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF CAMPUS NEWS COVERAGE AT ITS BEST The Texas A&M Foundation congratulates The Battalion for reporting important news from every corner of campus since 1893.

the media room, The Battalion was allowed to sit in a section consisting of mostly broadcast reporters, allowing the student publication to have some of the best photographic coverage of the night. Additionally, Battalion reporters published their content online before local newspapers.

While special events are a major contributor to the library’s average of 150,000 visitors per year, Anaya said there was a jump to over 200,000 visitors in 2018. The increase is likely the result of the recent death of former First Lady Barbara Bush, who is buried on the grounds of the library.

When news of Barbara Bush’s passing broke on April 17, 2018, The Battalion staff rearranged the original design for the April 18 newspaper to feature the news on the front page. A reporter was sent out to cover a spontaneous event held that night in front of the Bush Library.

“At the Presidential Pond beside the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, a vigil was held to honor the memory of the late Barbara Bush,” the paper read. “Students from the Bush School were the primary organizers … The vigil brought over 100 students and community members together with the lighting of candles, singing of hymns and a moment of silence to honor the legacy of the former first lady.”

In the following days, staff members created a memorial edition for the former first lady and provided readers with indepth coverage of her burial at the Bush Library on April 23.

The Battalion continues to report on the wide variety of events hosted at the library throughout the year.

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‘They will remain with us forever in Aggie Spirit’

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After the collapse of Bonfire on Nov. 18, 1999, The Battalion staff worked relentlessly to cover the tragedy at the university in the days following the event.

Recalling The Battalion’s extensive coverage of the 1999 Bonfire tragedy that shook the university

By Taylor Fennell @Taylorpaige1299 When tragedy struck Aggieland on Nov. 18, 1999 at 2:42 a.m., The Battalion staff was called to tell a story that would be remembered by Aggies forever.

At the time Bonfire collapsed, that day’s Battalion had already been sent to print. As news of the tragedy broke, staff stopped the presses, and the newspaper that ultimately hit the stands on the morning of Nov. 18 contained stories about events that had taken place only hours before.

At the time of publication, four Aggies had been confirmed dead and 12 were hospitalized. The Battalion staff captured the somber night by taking photos of the fallen stack, students raised their pots to show they were ready to help and emergency personnel aiding the injured.

Even in that first paper, the impact that the collapse had on the student body was apparent. Thousands of students gathered at the scene, some sobbing or shouting, while others made phone calls to friends and family. A photo of students praying while lights flash in the background shows the Aggie Family standing together in a time of need.

By the time the Nov. 19, 1999 edition of The Battalion was published, 11 Aggies had died as a result of the collapse. The names of Jeremy Richard Frampton, Lucas John Kimmel, Bryan A. McClain, Nathan Scott West, Chad A. Powell, Miranda Adams, Michael Stephen Ebanks, Jamie Lynn Hand, Jerry Don Self, Christopher Lee Heard and Christopher D. Breen were released, along with a heartbreaking photo of students mourning in front of the collapsed stack. The front page read, “They will remain with us forever in Aggie Spirit.”

Inside the paper were stories of grief, unity and an update on rescue efforts. Many students had fielded calls of concerned family members, wanting to make sure their loved ones were safe. They coped by watching updates on a television set in the Memorial Student Center Flag Room, volunteering at the scene of the collapse and donating blood at various stations on campus. In a press conference, then-president Ray Bowen announced the cancellation of the 1999 Bonfire. A Battalion timeline of the accident, rescue efforts and reactions told the facts in a manner which made it clear just how much had occurred in such a short amount of time.

After a weekend of developing news, Timothy Doran Kerlee Jr.’s name was added to the list of those who died, making the final count of Aggies who lost their lives from the collapse 12. Each Aggie was profiled in The Battalion on Nov. 22, 1999, and their photos lined the front page. The edition highlighted ways fellow Aggies were remembering those who

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passed. Among the unique tributes were Aggie Rings left at the Bonfire site to honor those who died before receiving their own rings.

The 12 fallen Aggies were remembered at a sunset gathering on Nov. 25, the original date for the canceled Bonfire. In the meantime, certain Corps outfits chose to remove medals and cords from their uniforms in exchange for black ribbons. Services such as counseling and Bible studies occurred frequently, with Corps of Cadets chaplains working to help any student through the hardships they were facing.

The MSC’s official Bonfire T-shirts were revised to become memorial shirts with proceeds going to the families of the fallen Aggies. The Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Foundation established funds to honor the 12 victims of the collapse. Donations were received from individuals all across the nation.

The remarks of Samuel Murdock, who was a business administration sophomore at the time, shed light on the way Aggies can come together in times of crisis. His quote was printed on the front page on Nov. 22.

“I’ve never felt so proud of my university as I do at this time,” Murdock said. “To see the unification of all Aggies, regardless of age, sex, religion or sexual orientation just makes my heart swell with pride and my faith in the world strengthened. The friendship that unites us is beyond death and time.”

@AGGIECORPS